In the vacuum of space, there is no margin for error. Since 2007, FHP – Frezite High Performance, Lda has provided the aerospace industry with mission-critical thermal protection systems, metallic structures, and advanced composites. Their technology has been a cornerstone of humanity’s most ambitious endeavors—from LEO satellite constellations that provide connectivity, communications and Earth observation to biological research missions to understand the universe.

For over 18 years, Dunmore has been a proud supplier and strategic partner to FHP, providing the advanced materials required to protect spacecraft as they push deeper into the cosmos.

Planetary Defense: The Hera Mission
A standout example of this partnership is the European Space Agency’s (ESA) Hera mission. Launched in 2024, Hera is humanity’s first probe to rendezvous with a binary asteroid system and serves as Europe’s flagship “Planetary Defender.”

As Hera prepares for its December 2026 rendezvous to perform a post-impact survey of a deflected asteroid, Dunmore’s materials are on board, ensuring the spacecraft survives the harsh transition from launch to deep-space operations.

In the aerospace sector, performance is measured in both technical precision and time. As the Engineering Manager for FHP, André Cavaleiro is responsible for ensuring that every spacecraft has the exact materials needed to survive LEO, GEO, and beyond. In an industry where delays can cost millions, the reliability of a supply chain is just as vital as the thermal foil itself.

“From a schedule point, they’ve helped us a lot. Raw materials come in sooner, so we can respond to our customers sooner,” says Cavaleiro. “Flexibility and rapid responsive news are key differentiating factor within the industry.”

Beyond rapid fulfillment, Dunmore provides FHP with essential R&D support, including samples of specialized raw materials like second surface foils. This allows FHP to conduct rigorous testing before integration, ensuring every thermal shield meets the mission’s optical and thermal requirements.

The partnership is already looking toward the next frontier: the PLATO (PLAnetary Transits and Oscillations) mission, scheduled for launch in 2027. PLATO will utilize a suite of 26 cameras to scan the “habitable zone” of Sun-like stars, searching for terrestrial exoplanets, exomoons, and planetary rings.
As PLATO embarks on its journey to find another Earth, it will be shielded from the extreme thermal risks of deep space by Dunmore products, integrated by the expert hands at FHP team.

“Dunmore has been a great partner,” says Cavaleiro. “Their engineering expertise and long history of successful mission heritage allows us to provide our customers with exactly what they need for spacecraft protection.”

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